We’re into our third instalment of Iconic Goals, where we look back at some of the most memorable goals scored against our upcoming opponents. The latest stop takes us to Empoli, where Juventus will line up at 20:45 CEST on Sunday evening searching for a second successive away victory of the new season.
There have been 14 previous Serie A encounters at the Castellani Stadium between these two teams, with the Bianconeri leading the head-to-head record with nine victories to their name. Once such three-pointer came on October 27, 2018 – a match we’ll re-live below.
ON A HIGH
Juventus had started the 2018/19 season in the best-possible way: with eight victories in a row and a draw with Genoa on Matchday 9, they were ahead of the chasing pack at the summit of the Serie A table. Coach Allegri’s men arrived at the Castellani following victory over Manchester United in the Champions League, with the emotions of that victory possibly the reason for a sluggish start in Tuscany.
Having lost Giorgio Chiellini in the pre-match warm-ups, Juve’s gap in defence was felt as a well-placed Francesco Caputo effort put the hosts ahead on 28 minutes. The Bianconeri failed to kick into gear despite going a goal down, with the scoreline reading 1-0 to Empoli at the break.
Yet the script was turned on its head in the second half, as the visitors looked for the all-important equaliser: Alex Sandro was denied from a good position, before Miralem Pjanic’s strike crashed against the crossbar. On 53 minutes, the breakthrough came as Paulo Dybala was fouled in the box, and up stepped Cristiano Ronaldo to fire in from the spot. Thereafter the match was in the balance, with a moment of magic needed to produce the winner.
RONALDO'S ROCKET
Twenty minutes from the end, that spark of magic occurred. Empoli sat deep, looking to hold onto a point, with gaps opening up in midfield. Frenchman Blaise Matuidi gained possession in the middle of the park, finding Ronaldo to his right. The Portuguese forward took two touches before firing an unstoppable bullet into the top corner – a fierce strike which Ivan Provedel could do nothing about. That superb strike would earn Juve all three points and continue their unbeaten run, which would only end in March the following year. Three months later and the Scudetto would once again be in the Bianconeri’s hands, with Ronaldo’s rocket remembered as one of his best across that title-winning campaign.